Protect Your Hearing: How to Avoid Ear Injuries

By the CDC’s numbers, over 52 million U.S. workers each year are exposed to hazardous chemicals and unsafe noise levels that could jeopardize their hearing. Hearing loss and ear injuries are two of the greatest threats to the health of the American worker. If you are the victim of ear injuries, experienced personal injury lawyer Peter Ventura will help you seek proper compensation.

Because loud or sustained noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, the Better Hearing Institute has outlined specific occupations and recreational activities where volumes can reach unsafe levels. If you are employed in one of these industries or participate in any of these recreational activities, you should be particularly vigilant about using ear protection.

Occupations Where Hearing Loss is at Risk

Recreational Situations that Can Cause Hearing Loss or Deafness

Firearms and fireworks

Power tools

Concerts and nightclubs

Sporting events

Motorsports

Symptoms of Hearing Damage

Because hearing loss often occurs gradually, the symptoms frequently go unnoticed until they start to seriously affect a person’s quality of life. If you encounter any of these symptoms, consider them warning signs of hearing damage, and make an appointment with your doctor:

Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Difficulty understanding conversation

Withdrawal from social situations

Accidents Can Cause Sudden Hearing Loss

Major car accidents can cause hearing damage in two ways. A traumatic head injury, such as one sustained by the head hitting the steering wheel or windshield, might cause dislocation or fracture of the inner ear bones or cause inner ear bleeding that could lead to hearing loss.

In addition, an airbag deploying may save your life, but harm your hearing. The sound of an airbag inflating is as loud as a shotgun blast—it can exceed 170 dB (decibels), which is more than 20% higher than levels that cause permanent hearing loss. It’s estimated that among people who are in car accidents where the airbags deploy, 17% sustain permanent hearing loss.

Consequences of Hearing Loss

Being unable to hear a conversation is not the only consequence of hearing loss. Difficulty hearing actually puts your personal safety at risk, according to a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery: U.S. adults who had trouble hearing were 90% more likely to be injured in an accident. This may be due to an inability to hear traffic approaching, for instance, or because the ear is associated with balance, ear injuries may result in a greater likelihood of falling.

Can I be Compensated for Deafness or Ear Injuries?

Your opportunities to receive compensation for hearing loss depend on the circumstances in which your ears sustained the injury. If you hurt your ears at a fireworks show, for instance, it is unlikely that you be able to sue for personal injury. However, if your hearing loss arises from someone else’s negligent or intentional behavior, you may be eligible to recover damages to pay medical bills and compensate for your pain and suffering and lost wages. To discuss your medical records and evidence for your ear injuries, contact the law offices of Worcester personal injury attorney Peter Ventura for a free consultation.

Client Testimonials

Attorney Ventura was excellent. I was injured in a car accident and he really looked out for my best interests. He is thorough and professional as well as easy to reach and always there when I needed him. His support team was outstanding. They kept me well-informed throughout the process. I would highly recommend Attorney Ventura for any of your personal injury needs. He’s the best.

Ann J.

Peter did an excellent job reviewing and handling my case. He was clear and honest regarding the legal climate and chances for a satisfactory outcome in

Steve

Attorney Ventura was without a doubt the best lawyer I have come across. I had a personal injury case that he handled and he did so very professionally and effectively. I simply can’t say enough good things about Attorney Ventura and his staff. There was such great attention to detail and I, as the client, always came first. I cannot recommend Attorney Ventura highly enough.

Types Of Injuries

Read Our Book

For more than 25 years, our client service philosophy has guided our work in every case:

We understand the anxiety and uncertainty that a Serious accident can cause for the victim and family. By establishing close communication with clients we serve, we try to inspire confidence in each client’s case.

Clients want meaningful results. Our goal is to achieve those results through dedication, hard work and a total commitment to professional excellence.

We protect the client’s interests by working with the very best professional experts- including medical specialists, investigators, photographers, vocational consultants, economists and accident reconstruction engineers. Our goal is to develop the detailed evidence necessary to convince insurance companies to pay just and fair compensation.

We are relentless in our pursuit of the truth and obtaining the best possible result as each case allows.

No Fee Unless We Win

We offer free consultations, and we accept nearly all of our cases on a contingent fee basis. In other words, you pay no attorneys fee except as a percentage of what we’re able to recover for you through settlement or trial.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.